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Beets & Blood Pressure

Beets are not the most popular vegetable. Often despised by children and avoided on salad bars, beets are the unsung heroes of the vegetable world. Beets have been proven to have positive effects for individuals who suffer with high blood pressure as well as other health conditions. Beets have been found to be effective cleaners of the blood and can help to restore it.

  1. Nitrates and Nitrites

    • Beets are high in nitrates, which are essential to maintaining low blood pressure. The nitrates of beet juice are changed into nitrites by the living bacteria on the tongue. Once swallowed, the nitrites are reabsorbed into the bloodstream. According to WebMD, an individual with high nitrite content will have low blood pressure.

    Beet Juice

    • To enjoy the benefits of beets, you must consume enough. The easiest way to get the required amount of beets is by drinking beet juice. WebMD states that drinking 2 cups of beet juice a day will reduce blood pressure within an hour of drinking and will continue to have effect for 24 hours. There are no study results to suggest drinking more than 2 cups of beet juice in 24 hours will increase the effects of the beets.

    Effects of Mouthwash

    • The nitrates in the beet juice react with the bacteria on the tongue to be converted into the necessary nitrites. If you use mouthwash daily, it will kill the bacteria on the tongue. Without the necessary amount of bacteria, the nitrate conversion will not happen and the beet juice will not have a positive effect on blood pressure.

    Other Health Benefits

    • Beets are high in several vitamins and can provide many health benefits besides lowering blood pressure. Beets have been proven to positively affect conditions such as anemia, cancer, constipation, dandruff, gall bladder and kidney ailments. Beets are high in vitamin A, B1, B2, B6 and C and are a good source of calcium, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, sodium and iron.

    Caution

    • Some individuals should not consume beets. Anybody who suffers from kidney stones should not consume beets on a large scale. Add beet juice to the diet slowly, starting with the juice of half a beet root once a week and slowly increasing. Some individuals have reported feeling dizzy during the first week or two of regularly drinking beet juice. This is due to the toxins that were stored in the body being flushed out. As toxins are removed, individuals may experience some nausea as well. Take care to drink 16 to 20 oz. of water during this time to help flush the toxins out of the body and relieve the symptoms.

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